The excellent German magazine Auto Bild have just published their 2011 max performance summer tyre test covering 10 tyres. Auto Bild decided to use the the popular 225/40 r18 tyre size, fitted to vehicles such as the Golf GTI, Focus ST, Audi S3, Octavia RS and the test car used, the Mazda3 MPS.

The top 4

Following on the trend from 2010 the Hankook S1 EVO scored strongly in all the tests to take the overall win, closely followed by the new P Zero and the Conitnental Sport Contact 3. The old pattern Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric finished 4th, critisied for its high rolling resistance and noise levels, something the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 has addressed.

The rest

In 5th place was a tyre reviews favorite, the Uniroyal Rainsport 2. Dubbed the “wet weather specialist”, the Uniroyal scored well in aquaplaning, wet handling, comfort and noise, only slightly let down by its subjective feel on the dry track. 6th place went to the new Potenza S001, which was again let down by its wet handling after excellent scores in the dry tests. The old pattern Dunlop Sport Maxx TT finished 7th, which must be due for a replacement soon and disappointly, the relatively new Michelin Pilot Sport 3 finished 8th, scoring well in the noise, comfort and rolling resistance tests but let down by its “sporty characteristics”. Roll on the true Pilot Sport 3, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport! 9th went to the Falken ZE912, again let down by its more touring nature while last place was awarded to the Linglong L688, which was given a huge “NOT RECOMMENDED” stamp and the worst wet score we’ve ever seen. Budgets... who’d fit them!

The results

1st: Hankook Ventus S1 evo
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 48 Dry: 8 Wet: 9 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 9 Noise: 8 Overall: 8 Sport tires with good driving performance on wet and dry roads. Impeccable handling and Stable cornering on a wet runway. Short wet and dry braking distances, encouraging low rolling resistance. Average ride comfort Read Reviews
2nd: Pirelli P Zero
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 44 Dry: 10 Wet: 8 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 6 Noise: 6 Wear: 0 Overall: 8 Top tires balanced sports handling qualities. Good steering response with good feedback and dynamic driving performance on dry roads. Shortest stopping distances on wet and dry roads Average reserves to aquaplaning Read Reviews    Buy from £127.99
3rd: Continental Sport Contact 3
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 45 Dry: 8 Wet: 8 Comfort: 5 Rolling Resistance: 9 Noise: 8 Overall: 7 All round talent with balanced handling in all weather conditions. Good steering precision and cornering stability on dry roads. Short braking distances on wet track, encouraging low rolling resistance Moderate ride comfort Read Reviews
4th: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 41 Dry: 8 Wet: 8 Comfort: 7 Rolling Resistance: 6 Noise: 5 Wear: 0 Overall: 7 Dynamic all-rounder with very good handling on wet surfaces. High levels of resistance to aquaplaning, good ride comfort Relatively high rolling noise, rolling resistance slightly increased Read Reviews
5th: Uniroyal RainSport 2
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 46 Dry: 6 Wet: 8 Comfort: 8 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 10 Overall: 7 The wet weather specialist sport tyre. Excellent safety reserves with aquaplaning, short wet and dry stopping distances, very quiet road noise Delayed steering response and steering when sporty driving on dry roads Read Reviews
6th: Bridgestone Potenza S001
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 41 Dry: 9 Wet: 7 Comfort: 8 Rolling Resistance: 5 Noise: 5 Overall: 7 Specialises in dry conditions with dynamic sporty handling, good steering precision and short braking distances. Good reserves to aquaplaning Slightly longer braking distances in wet conditions, higher rolling resistance, road noise loudest. Read Reviews    Buy from £109.99
7th: Dunlop SP Sport Maxx TT
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 39 Dry: 7 Wet: 7 Comfort: 6 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 6 Overall: 6 Good tires balanced without ups and downs, good aquaplaning safety reserves and short braking distances on wet and dry roads. Slightly less grip in wet conditions, moderate ride comfort. Read Reviews
8th: Michelin Pilot Sport 3 PS3
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 42 Dry: 6 Wet: 6 Comfort: 7 Rolling Resistance: 8 Noise: 8 Overall: 7 Good aquaplaning safety margins, more comfortable ride comfort, low rolling resistance Moderate handling characteristics with a clear tendency to understeer on wet road, braking performance is average Read Reviews
9th: Falken ZE912
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 29 Dry: 4 Wet: 3 Comfort: 3 Rolling Resistance: 6 Noise: 8 Overall: 5 low rolling resistance and extremely quiet Poor driving behavior, delayed steering response and reduced lateral support, long braking distances on wet roads, reduced ride comfort Read Reviews
10th: Linglong L688
225/40 R18 3PMSF: no	Total: 20 Dry: 2 Wet: -2 Comfort: 2 Rolling Resistance: 7 Noise: 8 Overall: 3 Low noise, low rolling resistance. Poor understeer and load change-prone performance on wet and dry roads, dangerously long braking distances on wet roads, poor ride comfort. Read Reviews